Abstract: When hearing-aid processing and predetermined-sound suppression processing are performed, in order to reduce an increase in delay of an output sound in response to an input sound greater than a case where only the hearing-aid processing is performed, a hearing aid includes: a hearing-aid processing unit configured to amplify a first acoustic signal received by a microphone, according to an ability of a user to hear sound in each of frequencies, to produce a second acoustic signal; a predetermined-sound detection unit configured to detect a predetermined sound included in the first acoustic signal, and to produce a control signal indicating generation timing of the predetermined sound; and a predetermined-sound suppression unit configured to suppress the second acoustic signal produced in the hearing-aid processing unit at the generation timing of the predetermined-sound indicated by the control signal produced in the predetermined-sound detection unit.

Abstract: A hearing aid that analyzes a surrounding acoustic environment and automatically switches between a plurality of hearing aid processing reduces noise by limiting directionality, when the user is in a noisy outdoor location. However, in the case where directionality is limited to the front when the user is walking or the like, the user is put in extreme danger because he/she cannot notice sound of danger approaching from behind. Behavior analysis of identifying a walking state of the user is necessary in addition to environmental analysis, but typical walking detection using a sensor as in the case of a pedometer and the like is not applicable to a device worn at an ear such as a hearing aid. On the basis of an occurrence pattern of wind noise when walking, the walking state of the user is identified in the case where pulse-like wind noise occurs repeatedly. This enables walking detection to be performed using an existing structure, with there being no need to provide a sensor or the like.

Abstract: When hearing-aid processing and predetermined-sound suppression processing are performed, in order to reduce an increase in delay of an output sound in response to an input sound greater than a case where only the hearing-aid processing is performed, a hearing aid includes: a hearing-aid processing unit configured to amplify a first acoustic signal received by a microphone, according to an ability of a user to hear sound in each of frequencies, to produce a second acoustic signal; a predetermined-sound detection unit configured to detect a predetermined sound included in the first acoustic signal, and to produce a control signal indicating generation timing of the predetermined sound; and a predetermined-sound suppression unit configured to suppress the second acoustic signal produced in the hearing-aid processing unit at the generation timing of the predetermined-sound indicated by the control signal produced in the predetermined-sound detection unit.

Abstract: To provide a noise suppressing device which accurately suppresses weak electric field strength pulse noise. A band-limiting unit (5) band-limits a composite signal obtained by demodulating an FM baseband signal, to a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined frequency so as to output a monaural audio signal. A pulse detecting unit (62) which detects pulse noise in the audio signal outputted by the band-limiting unit (5). A pulse judging unit (63) judges that a detection result of the pulse detecting unit (62) is valid in the case where pulse noise is detected in the composite signal, at a position corresponding to the detected pulse noise. A pulse suppressing unit (64) suppresses the pulse noise detected in the audio signal, in the case where the pulse judging unit (63) judges that the detection result is valid.

Abstract: A hearing aid that analyzes a surrounding acoustic environment and automatically switches between a plurality of hearing aid processing reduces noise by limiting directionality, when the user is in a noisy outdoor location. However, in the case where directionality is limited to the front when the user is walking or the like, the user is put in extreme danger because he/she cannot notice sound of danger approaching from behind. Behavior analysis of identifying a walking state of the user is necessary in addition to environmental analysis, but typical walking detection using a sensor as in the case of a pedometer and the like is not applicable to a device worn at an ear such as a hearing aid. On the basis of an occurrence pattern of wind noise when walking, the walking state of the user is identified in the case where pulse-like wind noise occurs repeatedly. This enables walking detection to be performed using an existing structure, with there being no need to provide a sensor or the like.

Abstract: Variations in characteristics due to individual differences among RFs cause differences between estimated noise spectrum patterns and actually occurring noise characteristics, resulting in variations in noise suppression capabilities. A pattern table stores, in advance, a spectrum pattern of a noise component contained in an audio signal and which is determined for each electric field strength. A noise estimation unit reads out a noise spectrum pattern corresponding to an electric field strength and estimates a noise component contained in an audio signal. A level calculation unit uses a test signal corresponding to a predetermined electric field strength as input to calculate a noise level contained in an audio signal obtained by an FM demodulation unit. A correction value calculation unit uses the calculated noise level to correct the association between the noise spectrum pattern and the electric field strength.

Abstract: A noise suppresser is provided which does not generate steady noise generated by a drop in the receiving field strength, pulse-type unsteady noise generated in a multipass environment and the like as well as musical noise due to excessive subtraction and the like. The noise suppresser (100) includes a field strength analysis unit (3) which analyzes change in a field strength d of a digital signal x, and a frame generation unit (1) which generates a frame made up of signal values accumulated within a range which does not exceed a predetermined threshold value when the analyzed field strength has changed and exceeds the predetermined threshold value. Further, the noise suppresser (100) includes a noise estimation unit (4) which estimates a noise pattern |N|n? mixed in the input signal x when the field strength has changed and exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and a noise suppression unit (5) which suppresses the noise included in the generated frame using the estimated noise pattern.

Abstract: For MPEG-2 AAC, MPEG-Surround or (AAC+SBR), whether a received bitstream is of AAC or MPS can not be determined till the details of the received bitstream is analyzed up to the end. Therefore, if the output delay of an audio signal is large, the output of a video signal cannot appropriately be delayed under control, not allowing A/V synchronization. A transmitting apparatus includes: a data packet generating unit which generates a data packet including encoding information that is not included in the header information of an audio stream packet and that indicates whether any processing is included which causes the decoding time of the encoded audio signal to exceed a predetermined decoding time, the data packet being analyzed by a receiving apparatus before decoding the audio stream packet is started; and a transmitting unit which transmits the audio stream packet, data packet and video stream packet via multiplex broadcast.

Abstract: To provide a noise suppressing device which accurately suppresses weak electric field strength pulse noise. A band-limiting unit (5) band-limits a composite signal obtained by demodulating an FM baseband signal, to a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined frequency so as to output a monaural audio signal. A pulse detecting unit (62) which detects pulse noise in the audio signal outputted by the band-limiting unit (5). A pulse judging unit (63) judges that a detection result of the pulse detecting unit (62) is valid in the case where pulse noise is detected in the composite signal, at a position corresponding to the detected pulse noise. A pulse suppressing unit (64) suppresses the pulse noise detected in the audio signal, in the case where the pulse judging unit (63) judges that the detection result is valid.

Abstract: Variations in characteristics due to individual differences among RFs cause differences between estimated noise spectrum patterns and actually occurring noise characteristics, resulting in variations in noise suppression capabilities. A pattern table stores, in advance, a spectrum pattern of a noise component contained in an audio signal and which is determined for each electric field strength. A noise estimation unit reads out a noise spectrum pattern corresponding to an electric field strength and estimates a noise component contained in an audio signal. A level calculation unit uses a test signal corresponding to a predetermined electric field strength as input to calculate a noise level contained in an audio signal obtained by an FM demodulation unit. A correction value calculation unit uses the calculated noise level to correct the association between the noise spectrum pattern and the electric field strength.

Abstract: A noise suppresser is provided which does not generate steady noise generated by a drop in the receiving field strength, pulse-type unsteady noise generated in a multipass environment and the like as well as musical noise due to excessive subtraction and the like. The noise suppresser (100) includes a field strength analysis unit (3) which analyzes change in a field strength d of a digital signal x, and a frame generation unit (1) which generates a frame made up of signal values accumulated within a range which does not exceed a predetermined threshold value when the analyzed field strength has changed and exceeds the predetermined threshold value. Further, the noise suppresser (100) includes a noise estimation unit (4) which estimates a noise pattern |N|n? mixed in the input signal x when the field strength has changed and exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and a noise suppression unit (5) which suppresses the noise included in the generated frame using the estimated noise pattern.